Velma Faydell Vann, 86, of Lampasas died on Sept. 13, 2024, at Lampasas Assisted Living.
Visitation will be held at First Street Church of Christ on Sept. 18 at 10 a.m., with the funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel has charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Vann was born Nov. 23, 1937, at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio to Jodie M. and Thelma F. (Binnion) Smith. She was the proud daughter of a mounted cavalry Army sergeant.
She attended the Kempner school until ninth grade and graduated from Lampasas High School in May 1956.
After graduation, Mrs. Vann attended business school in Lampasas and was a bookkeeper. She was employed at Peoples National Bank for six years and often shared memories of the 1957 flood.
On April 14, 1961, she married W. Lee Vann in Lampasas, and they were married 58 years. They worked together operating Vann Livestock Company for 35 years, buying and selling hogs, cattle, sheep, goats, horses and farm equipment. Shipping livestock all over the United States and Mexico, they were buyers for Roeglein, Swift, Cudahy Packing, San Antonio Pack and Bryant Foods, in addition to numerous feedlots.
Mrs. Vann was a true farm wife. She not only worked livestock and bottled many “babies,” but she gardened and canned the vegetables and fruits to feed her family.
While raising her family, she worked for Lampasas County Farm Bureau as well as Lampasas Cattle Auction and Lometa Cattle Auction. After her children were grown, she worked at Lampasas Middle School as a teacher’s aide and substitute teacher. She especially enjoyed her time working with specialneeds students.
Mrs. Vann was a 4-H leader for many years, teaching cooking and sewing, and she often judged for 4-H shows in the area. She and her husband were very active in Lampasas County Farm Bureau and the Lampasas County Youth Livestock Show. They and other agricultural families were instrumental in building the Lampasas County Show Barn, developing the livestock association and organizing the Ladies Auxiliary. The 1993 Lampasas County Youth Livestock Show was dedicated to Lee and Faydell Vann. Every year at the county stock show, a belt buckle is given in their honor to a senior showman who has exhibited exceptional congeniality and sportsmanship.
Mrs. Vann was a member of First Street Church of Christ, where she taught preschool Bible class for more than 50 years. She was known for her dishes at church dinners, especially her peach cobbler.
She and her husband were devout Christians and believed in helping others. Their greatest pride was that their children all graduated from college and served their communities through public education.
Mrs. Vann was preceded in death by her husband; her parents and stepfather, W.T. Vogel; brothers-in-law John I. Vann, Vaughn Vann, Lynn Vann, Dale Vann and Louis Hill; sisters-in-law Joan Vann and Fannie Hill; and a great-granddaughter, Claire Evelyn Phillips.
She is survived by sons Leslie Vann and wife Melody of Decatur, and Joe Vann and wife Amy of Burnet; daughter, Judy Hail and husband Mike of Lampasas; sister, Thelma Jo Bays and brother-inlaw Gerald; sisters-in-law Lynette Vann of Evant and Marianne Scarborough of Lakeway; grandchildren Miles Vann and wife Lyndsey, Vandi Nuckles and husband Jared, Kirby Phillips and husband Clay, Kleg Kennedy, Ellett Vann and wife Lyndsi, Jonathan Hail and wife Kathryn, and Jake Hail and wife Chandler; greatgrandchildren Logan Vann, Robby Vann, Faylee Nuckles, Elsie Jo Nuckles, Emmalen Phillips, Jayden Hail, Colton Hail, Jackson Hail and Henry Hail; and by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made in her name to Lampasas County Youth Livestock Show Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship Fund at 704 N. 7th St. Lometa, TX 76853.
